PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 993 
siderable range of organization, from a somewhat complex zooid 
provided with elaborate natatory fringes, with a system of vessels 
which are ultimately connected with the ambulacral vascular system 
of the embryo, with a well-developed digestive tract, and in some 
instances with special nervous ganglia, to a simple layer of absorbent 
and irritable sarcode which invests the nascent embryo. The pseud- 
embryo of Comaéu/a holds an intermediate position. It resembles 
very closely in external form and in subsequent metamorphosis the 
“pupa stage’ of the Holuthuride, the great distinction between 
them being that in the Holothuridz the pupa has already passed 
through the more active ‘‘ Auricularian’’ stage, while the analogous 
form in Comatula has been developed directly from the egg. 
West Kent Naturan History anp MIcROscoPicaAL SOCIETY. 
February 18th, 1863. 
List of Officers. 
President.—¥rederick Currey, Esq., M.A., F.R.S., Sec.L.8. 
Vice-Presidents.—John Penn, Esq., F.R.S.; John I. South, Esq., 
F.R.C.S.; and James Glaisher, Esq., F.R.S., F.R.A.S. 
Treasurer.—lH1. G. Noyes, Esq., M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P.L. 
Hon. Secretaries.—Messrs. E. Clift and W. Groves. 
Council—_W. H. Brown, Esq., F.R.C.S.; M. Corder, Esq. ; 
William Groves, Esq.; W.G. Lemon, Esq., B.A.; Rev. R. H. Mar- 
ten, B.A.; Flaxman Spurrell, Esq., F.2.C.S.: John Standring, Esq. ; 
George Sweet, Esq.; James Taylor, Esq.; William Walton, Esq. ; 
J. Jenner Weir, Esq.; Rev. J. G. Wood. 
REporT FOR THE YEAR 1862. 
Read at the Annual Meeting, February 18th, 1863. 
Freperick Currey, Esq., President, in the Chair. 
The council of the West Kent Natural History and Microscopical 
Society have the gratification of informing the members that the 
prosperity of the society, both in respect to numbers and finances, 
on which they felt they might justly congratulate them at the last 
general meeting, still continues toattend it. They have indeed to 
regret the loss of three of the former members, who have been re- 
moved by death, and the withdrawal of five others, whilst twenty- 
four new members have been admitted. And the council are re- 
joiced to see, in the lengthened list of names, a proof of increasing 
interest in the subjects the study of which the society seeks to 
promote. 
